Associate pastor

678. A minister who serves as the sole pastor of a church shall be referred to simply as “the pastor.” The term “senior pastor” shall be applied to the presiding minister of a multiple pastoral staff. The pastor shall be expected to carry out the full pastoral function as set forth in 675, and ultimate responsibility for the same shall rest upon the presiding pastor. An assistant pastor is a helping member of a multiple staff who normally is assigned more limited and specific aspects of the pastoral function (741). 725

(29) See that adequate historical records and financial records are maintained for the church (610; 842:2, 6).

738. Clergy Couple. If a clergy couple is appointed to the pastoral staff, only one shall be designated as senior pastor, unless the local church conference should vote to call the persons as co-pastors. In such case, the district shall appoint them as co-pastors and they shall be listed as such in the district journal (1332:8).